Priorities

"Uh... sir?"

The nervous call went unheard, the violent winds drowning his shout out completely. Globe Trotter groaned, realizing he'd have to make his way across the slippery, ice coated deck. The earth pony waded through the snowstorm towards his employer... or was it partner? "Vector!"

"What?" came the irate reply. Emerging from the almost blinding curtain of snow and powdered ice appeared a pegasus, wrapped up in so many sheets and scarves he may as well have been a ball of yarn on hooves. The metal gear protruding from his head was still perfectly recognizable, however, and never failed to put Globe on edge. "I'm in the middle of things! Where'd my flask go?"

Globe swallowed nervously. "Is the ship ready to go yet?"

"Of course! We're flying as we speak!" Vector replied sarcastically. "Of course it's not fixed! If it was, do you think I'd be freezing my flank at this sorry altitude?!"

Globe narrowed his eyes under his thick, nearly opaque snow-goggles.

"Sarcasm doesn't help anypon—..." he began, but was interrupted by a horrible, distant noise, silencing him entirely as he froze in horror: a long, dull roar like an animal screaming in pain.

Even Vector went serious for just a second.

The loud, inequine moan rattled the metal structure of the airship, only intensifying Globe's worries: years of travelling had given him sharp survival instincts, and he didn't like the idea of being anywhere near the source of that noise. "It's getting closer!"

Vector Velocity grunted and fiddled with the gear in his head. "Well, don't just stand there. Get the bloody telegram working. Send an SOS. And find my whisky flask!"

In Ponyville, all the lights had been extinguished in every house... every house but a solitary tree that stood alone near the centre of the town, where the windows let a flickering light illuminate the street weakly.

The library felt particularly oppressive that night: the wooden walls almost seemed to bend inwards like a cage around the small alicorn princess sat at it's centre, fussing over a mountain of open books. Twilight was on her third coffee that day... and she was on the verge of asking Spike for a fourth... or even giving up and heading to bed.

The reports she had gotten over the past week were sketchy enough... but now, she had received a particularly ominous call for help: one she couldn't ignore.

"What do you think about all this... Spike?" she asked. The little dragon popped his head around the doorway.

"Hmm?"

"About these rumours in Neighpal, and the call for help. You know... about the—..."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Abominable Snowpony, I know." Spike waved his talons back and forth derisively as he leant against the wall. "I think it's bogus."

How very... direct, Twilight thought. "Any reason why you'd think it's bogus? We've been getting reports for a whole week now..."

"Because, Twilight, if there was such a thing as an Abominable Snowpony, you'd have read about it," Spike told her. "And you haven't, so that settles that."

Twilight looked back at her books, her eyelids drooping downwards, unable to keep themselves fully open for long. If only I shared Spike's confidence in my knowledge... but there's just so much I don't know...

"I think we should organize a trip," she eventually declared. "Investigate the site ourselves. I've never been to Neighpal, after all."

She scanned the books another time. Nothing but rumours... unconfirmed suspicions. But if something really is messing the towns up... and then there's that distress call.

"You expect everypony here to drop everything to follow up on a few rumours?" Spike asked her with a chuckle. "Well, I know for a fact that Rarity is busy. She was talking to me about her new hat line all day..."

"Oh, I know, I know... But I'm sure Fluttershy would jump at the chance to see the Snowpony up close," Twilight replied. "And Pinkie'll probably enjoy a trip. And of course Rainbow Dash is always up for adventure."

Twilight smiled. "And that's all we need, right? Me and Rainbow can guarantee our safety against danger... and the other two will be great helps in their own... areas."

Spike raised his eyebrow suspiciously. "And I suppose you expect me to go t—..."

"Pack your things, Spike! I'll organize the details immediately."

The little dragon sighed. "You know, dragons don't like the cold."

Twilight stood up, wobbling slightly as fatigue began to set in. "We'll find out what's causing all that property damage... and save the ponies of Neighpal!"

"Is it even really that bad? I mean, what is there to wreck in Neighpal?" Spike asked as Twilight busied herself around the Library, packing books and research items of all sorts. "Isn't it just a big pile of snow?"

Twilight scoffed indignantly.

"And a few hundred historical landmarks, and a fascinating cultural history! As a Princess, I've been told that the whole country is in a panic! They don't know what do do about this monster." Twilight puffed her chest out, proudly. "Well, the elements of harmony... minus Rarity, and probably Applejack too... are just the ponies for the job!"

She deflated a little. "That... didn't sound as good as it did in my head..."

Spike shook his head, exasperated. Sometimes he felt like the only sane pony... dragon... in Ponyville.

"Whatever you say, Twi'. But you won't be able to go anywhere comatose."

Twilight frowned briefly, before a wave of fatigue hit her like the Friendship Express. "Oh, right..." she muttered, before releasing a long, relentless yawn. "I'd better get some rest, huh?"

I've been poring over these reports for hours...

"Not to mention you can't round up the girls whilst they're asleep," Spike added, walking out up the stairs to his bed. "So you might as well get some shut-eye."

As the caffeine wore of, Twilight flew up after her assistant, and threw herself on her bed. I'll recruit Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow in the morning... and ask Applejack and Rarity for good measure. Even if they're busy... I might... as well...

But before she could follow her thoughts to completion, she fell asleep.

Twilight woke up slowly, her eyes drifting open at the average speed of a snail. She briefly wondered why it was that no matter how late at night she stayed up, she always found a way to wake up at the crack of dawn.

Snowpony... coffee... trip... Oh, right... Twilight sat up with a start. I have an expedition to organize

She leapt out of bed, her hooves clattering across the wooden floorboards as she quickly bushed her mane on her way out. I'll need supplies, a map, probably a guide, train tickets...

"Spike! I'm going to go find Fluttershy and Pinkie!" she exclaimed, still thinking hyper-actively. "Hold the fort while I'm gone!"

"You're getting them to go on your little trip?"

"Of course! I'll need them," Twilight explained. I'll need somepony who's used to dealing with animals after all...

She looked out towards the Everfree forest: friend or not, she knew who she wanted for this particular job. "And I know just where to start."

"An airship went missing?"

Fluttershy hadn't taken long to get intimidated by the prospect of a long and dangerous voyage, and when Twilight had mentioned the downed airship, she had panicked.

"Not missing... just crashed," Twilight explained, as reassuring as possible. "And... also not communicating anymore."

"But that sounds awful! And you think that some poor snowpony is responsible?" Fluttershy asked. "It doesn't sound right at all."

Twilight nodded. "Well, that's part of why we need to investigate. I'm not even convinced there is a Snowpony."

It wasn't early morning anymore but it still hadn't been long since she had woken up, and coupled with going to bed late the night before, she still felt a little tired, and often stopped to yawn. Fluttershy noticed that her eyes looked a little grey, and bit her lip, concerned.

"I don't suppose you'd like some tea?" Fluttershy asked. "I, well, I was going to make some for a few of the animals anyway..."

Since when do animals drink tea? Twilight wondered. "Yes, thank you. I could use it."

Fluttershy smiled warmly and led her inside, past the vast number of critters that populated the area. Twilight paid special care not to accidentally walk on a squirrel or mouse... they were everywhere..

"So, tell me more about this Abominable Snowpony," Fluttershy said, her face brightening with interest. "Whatever could it have done to earn such a mean name?"

"I don't know..." Twilight began, trotting into the house after her. "Probably scared some tourists. But these days, ponies are finding their barns and crops trampled, and nothing but giant footprints are left behind."

"How awful!" Fluttershy exclaimed, although Twilight was almost certain she was worried on the Snowpony's account. "Will it really be a dangerous trip?"

Twilight sat down grumpily. "Probably. Neighpal is famous for avalanches and bandits."

"Oh, dear. That sounds..."

Twilight nodded. "Like a really fascinating place to visit!"

"...scary..."

"Exactly! In a sense." Twilight smiled sheepishly. "I suppose I've acquired a bit of a taste for adventure these days..."

She decided that it would be best to reassure her friend before she got even more nervous. "I'm sure it'll be fine! Like a... ski-resort..."

Fluttershy sighed, obviously just a little embarrassed at being patronized. "It's fine... I'll go. If ponies are scaring a poor Snowpony, I really should be there." Fluttershy nodded with determination. "It's important to be there for ponies who need you. Even when they're Snowponies."

Twilight smiled. "Glad to have you onboard! Now I just need to get Pinkie."

Twilight looked at the sun: it was almost noon. If Applejack is busy too, that'll leave just the four of us... and Spike, of course. That'll only just be enough, by my estimations...

It was at that moment that Fluttershy heard the kettle begin to whistle alarmingly. "Oh my! The tea!"

I'm afraid I'll have to take a rain check on that tea... next up: Pinkie Pie!

Whilst Twilight had been prepared for pretty much any surprise Pinkie could throw at her (which was a lot), she was finding the whistling increasingly annoying. It was loud, it was tuneless, and for some reason, it came completely out of the blue.

Confetti she had expected. Whistling, no.

"Could you stop that, please?"

Pinkie didn't stop whistling. What she did do was begin talking at the same time. "Where's Neighpal?"

"It's—..."

"Is it far? Is it cold? Or is it a tropical island?"

The whistling continued.

Sweet Celestia, make it stop...

The Sugarcube corner was apparently bustling with activity... much as it usually was. Not that Twilight had the opportunity to check for herself... Pinkie had ambushed her before she even crossed the welcome-mat. If this had been any other pony, Twilight would have found it suspicious.

"It's mostly mountains... the Himarelayas, in fact... could you please stop that?"

"Ooh, like a ski-resort?"

"Yes, Pinkie, just like a ski-resort..."

"Are you guys out yet?!" Pinkie screamed suddenly, causing Twilight to flinch and cover her ears.

Once Pinkie has quietened down, Twilight shook her head, almost at the end of her tether. "So... ahem... do you want to come?"

Pinkie grinned. "Of course! I love skiing!"

Twilight let out a relieved sigh. So I'll have at least three ponies on this expedition... but I really need a tough mare like Rainbow as well.

"Great. We'll be leaving as soon as possible." Twilight hesitated. "Do you know where Rainbow would be right about now?"

"Of course! Rainbow tells me lots of things!" Pinkie replied, bouncing up and down a few times. "She told me about the yoghurt, about this meany-pants journalist, about barrels, about..."

That'll be a no... Twilight silenced Pinkie quickly before she went on, stuffing her hoof in the pink pony's mouth before more nonsense spewed out. "Nevermind. I'll find her myself. After I find Applejack... I always know where she'll be, at least."

Pinkie nodded enthusiatically. "Sure thing! I know where she is too!"

Twilight nodded, absent-mindedly. With a start, she remembered about a friend she had forgotten.

"I don't suppose you could tell Rarity we'll be leaving for a few days?" Twilight asked. "I may not have time to run over before her store closes..."

I imagine it'd be rather strange having all your friends disappear on you at once...

"Of course!" Pinkie replied. "You know me, I love delivering messages."

"Great! We'll be underway in no time at this rate!" Twilight smiled. I'll brush up on some defensive spells, too... no sense being caught unawares. But first, to the acres!

The grass felt nice... kind of stringy, Rainbow thought to herself as her hooves glided across the ground, twisting as she moved. Her stomach muscles tensed as she span forwards, skimming just above the ground as she delivered a solid roundhouse kick to the closest tree... a tough old oak, one that Applejack was sure could take a beating from Rainbow.

The pegasus darted back, her wings keeping her aloft just long enough to put a reasonable distance between her and her imagined adversary. I'll be ready for next month's selection for sure, she thought with a smile. She stretched her forelegs out before her, forming a solid, but elegant guard.

Ready for anything... she thought.

"What's that move, then?" came a familiar voice. Rainbow didn't move a muscle: she was too focussed on her practice.

"It's not a move: it's a guard," she explained. "It's the position I use when I'm preparing to move."

Applejack trotted up to her, and leaned forwards, well past Rainbow's defences, amused. "That 'so?"

Rainbow swallowed. Where she is, she could do anything to me. "Yup. But it's no fair if you start behind my guard."

Applejack gave Rainbow a vicious grin, and a split-second later, she barrelled into Rainbow, using her weight to pin Rainbow to the ground. Yup... saw this one coming...

"Fightin' ain't about bein' fair," Applejack told her with a smug smile. Rainbow pouted.

"Cheat."

Applejack's bones dug into Rainbow's flesh, and her muscles bound Rainbow together tighter than any rope. Mmf... I could stay here for a while...

"I'll have the talk with Twi' done today," Rainbow said, becoming more serious. "No sense dragging this out, right?"

Applejack loosened her grip, and all of a sudden the binding coils of muscle loosened and felt more like a heavy blanket of warmth, only slightly sweaty from the effort. I'll never stop myself from noticing these sorts of things...

"Really?" Applejack asked. "You're serious 'bout settlin' down?"

I get the sense she still doesn't believe me...

"I'm fine," Rainbow declared. "You know I've been running myself ragged these past months... Going on trips nopony really needs me for. Gotta' prioritize," she said. "Focus on what's important."

"But ya'll love adventurin'..."

Rainbow leant upwards and cheekily licked Applejack's nose with a chuckle. "You're my adventure, now."

Rainbow stared at Applejack for a few seconds, then laughed uncontrollably. Applejack scrunched her nose, confused. "Wh-what?"

"You just went so red!" Rainbow exclaimed in-between laughs. Applejack's grip got much tighter all of a sudden. "Like a big tomato!"

"I ain't funny!" Applejack retorted, her face growing even redder, her furious blush spreading across her whole face. "Ya'll caught me off guard..."

Rainbow managed to suck in just enough breath for one final, defiant retort:

"I remember somepony saying that it wasn't about being fair..."

And then all oxygen disappeared entirely.

"I am not... not goin' red! And I'm not funny!" Applejack continued, somehow becoming even more comedic the more she suffocated her marefriend. Rainbow slapped her forelegs desperately.

Air...!

The pressure around her windpipe was slowly taken away, and Rainbow spluttered furiously. "You really have to work on your hugs..."

"My hugs ain't the problem, it's you makin' fun of me."

"Well, I can't help it. You make me laugh." Rainbow shifted her weight slightly, making herself a bit more comfortable, trapped though she was. "You know, you've had me pinned here for a while now. I might be getting comfy."

Rainbow's wings curled around Applejack's back like a curtain brushing against a windowsill, light and delicate like a soft breeze. The farmpony shivered slightly. "Rainbow, we're outside."

We're ponies... we love being outside. Rainbow gave Applejack a winning smirk, and leant upwards as best she could towards Applejack's neck.

"So? Nopony is around—"

"I'm around!" came a sudden cry from not far away, cutting through the atmosphere like a rusty pair of scissors."Please don't do anything... else..."

Rainbow's heart stopped for just a second as her eyes went wild with panic.

Is that... Twilight?!

Rainbow realized that her muscles were so tense they were on the verge of cramping. Slowly, Applejack removed herself from Rainbow, allowing the pegasus to sit up straight. She looked about as shocked as Rainbow: neither of them had expected to be caught quite so off guard.

I think I just had a heart attack...

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her uninvited guest trot down a hill towards them. Was she spying on me?

"I thought you had Pinkie run interference?" Applejack asked under her breath. She didn't look cute and funny any more. No, the mood was most definitely ruined, thought Rainbow.

"I did! We agreed that if anypony came, she'd whistle and we'd escape!"

"That ain't interference! That's just warnin'!"

Twilight was well within earshot now, and the pair went quiet. "I'm sorry! I didn't know!" Twilight babbled. "I was just here to ask if Applejack wanted... to go to Neighpal... for a Snowpony"

Applejack tilted her head, redder than ever. "N-Neighpal? Snowpony?"

Dammit, I didn't mean for this to happen... why can't I ever get five minutes alone with AJ without getting interrupted? It's bad enough with her family, but now the Sugarcube corner this morning, and this...

"It's, um, for a, um..." Twilight stuttered, unable to form her words properly, oblivious to Rainbow's frustration. She was blushing furiously as well. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little surprised..."

"Really?" Rainbow quipped sarcastically. I'd never have been able to tell from that stutter.

"Me and the girls are going out to Neighpal to investigate an Abominable Snowpony," Twilight blurted out. "I understand if you're busy..."

Despite everything, Rainbow's curiosity was piqued.

What's this about an Abominable Snowpony?

Applejack nodded, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. "Yeah... I am, actually. There's a business deal comin' up, see..."

Twilight nodded understandingly, but Applejack still looked torn. "I'm sorry an' all, but you know I ain't got as much spare time as the rest of ya'll..."

Rainbow stepped closer to Applejack resolutely. I guess the cat's out of the bag now... might as well get this over with. "I'm busy too." She wrapped her hoof around Applejack's body, causing her to feel a little better about refusing to go on that mess of an adventure. "In fact..."

Rainbow took a deep breath, as if preparing to jump off into the deep end of an ice cold sea.

"I quit."

Applejack tensed up, her anxiety returned, but this time it wasn't because she had been discovered in a compromising way. C'mon, we couldn't keep this up forever, Rainbow thought. We needed to have this talk for a while now.

"Quit what?" Twilight asked, puzzled.

Rainbow gave a decisive nod. "I quit being an element of Harmony. I didn't want to say anything, but... I want to dedicate more of my time to AJ."

She rested her head against Applejack's own. "I've proven that although it'll slow me down, I still can work towards being a Wonderbolt and be an Element of Harmony... And all that's fine, y'know, 'cause the adventures are fun and awesome. But I can't balance all that and have a steady relationship. And that's what we are, right now... steady."

Going steady... has a nice ring to it.

"But..." Twilight began. "You don't have to choose between those three things! It's okay to... compromise..."

"Twi', I've been compromising since I put on that amulet-thing. I was on the fast track to being a Wonderbolt, but these days I have to divide my time between you and the girls, my job, and my ambitions. That's all fine..." Rainbow explained. "But things have changed, and I shouldn't have to balance my relationships and everything else. This is way more important."

"More important than being a national hero?" Twilight asked, frustration beginning to twist her voice, elevating her pitch and quickening her speech. I knew this wouldn't go smoothly...

"I just want to be loyal to myself for a bit," Rainbow said. "I'm awesome, no question there... but I can't do everything, and I'd like to be more than just 'the element of Loyalty'. I want to be with AJ, and be the fastest flyer in Equestria, and I can't do that if I'm always off going on wild goose chases to Neighpal."

"...that may be so," Applejack interjected, "But I'm also a busy pony, and I can't afford to go off on adventures every other weekend."

"Not to mention," Rainbow continued, "How long do you expect us to keep this up? We've... been thinking about the future, and things."

My future, specifically.

"It's all just talk for now, but, well, y'never know, right? I belong here, now."

Applejack and Twilight were both silent. Rainbow jutted her jaw forwards, expecting some kind of rebuttal.

It never came. Twilight deflated, her surprise and frustration gone.

"Well..." she began. "I guess I can understand. But what about the others? What we do is dangerous, and—..."

"And you need me, right?" Rainbow interrupted. "Twi', I'm not doing this for you any more. Like I said, I think it's time I be loyal to myself for a while. And I belong to Applejack."

Wow, that sounds corny.

"RD, you don't 'belong' to me," Applejack whispered. "And there ain't no need to give up on your adventure's just yet if ya'll don't want to..."

"AJ, we talked, and I decided. I know it sounds weird," Rainbow said, loud enough for everypony to hear, "But this is the kind of pony I want to be. I can't be out there and be here at the same time."

This has been an awkward conversation, Rainbow thought. First I get interrupted with AJ, then this argument... I just want it to end so I can get back to having a nice, conflict free day where I do awesome things and practice cool stuff without... crazy stuff happening...

Twilight took a step back, reflecting on the situation, her awkwardness beginning to ease away. "It's fine, I know now. I suppose that means I'll be heading to Neighpal without you..."

Both ponies nodded. "I'm afraid so. The farm needs me..."

"And I need AJ," Rainbow finished.

Twilight glanced at the sun: it was well past lunchtime. She smiled. "Well, I'm glad I know. I'd love for everypony to know when we get back, though. I think they'll all be very happy for you..."

Rainbow and Applejack both nodded. "Sure... we were just kinda' unsure how to tell them."

Although, admittedly, we did tell Pinkie...

"Well, that'll be the first thing we do when we get back!" Twilight exclaimed energetically. "It'll be perfect!"

Rainbow grinned, relieved. She had been worried of an argument, of Twilight failing to understand something so simple as this... but she didn't, and everything was fine. I'm being paranoid...

"But now," the alicorn went on, "I need to get everypony and everything together! There's a real mystery out east, you know."

Please don't tempt me...

"So, I'll see you guys in a few days, okay?" she finished. "Again, I'm sorry I barged in..."

"It's fine, sugar'," Applejack reassured. "Next time, we'll be sure to go inside... where there're doors that can be locked..."

Twilight gave them an awkward smile, and turned on her hooves. "Bye! We'll bring you back a souvenir!"

Rainbow chuckled. "Bring back something cool! Like a Neighpal sword or something!"

And whatever you do, don't get hurt without me...

Jeez, did I just think that? They'll be fine.

Right?

The snowstorm had cleared, and the sun shone weakly onto the stranded airship. It's metallic hull shimmered gently, and every hoofstep could be heard for miles around.

Globe Trotter felt like a sitting duck.

"Vector! When is it fixed?!"

There was no answer. There never was, the first time. Why he couldn't have found a more reasonable employer, he'd never know. "Vector! Boss?"

"The engine is heating up. We'll be at the next town in a few hours."

The pegasus engineer's head popped out from a small trapdoor. Frost had spread across his mane, and that disturbingly placed cog in his head. How had that even gotten there? "I was going to have a drink while we wait."

"It's not even three in the afternoon!"

"I meant coffee."

Globe sighed with relief. Sometimes, he worried about the belligerent pegasus. "All right, then."

He clambered down into the much warmer underbelly of the airship. It was dark, sure, but far more comforting than the vast expanse of snowy peaks and ice... and those footprints.

"Oh..." Vector began. "I got a message back from Equestria," he said, pouring some viscous black fluid into tin cups. It looked slightly like engine oil. "We'll be having guests up here by tomorrow. The Princess herself, no less."

Globe almost spluttered. "I'm sorry? Did you say—"

"Princess Sparkle."

"Oh," Globe muttered, his face falling, and his hope replaced with disappointment. "Not one of the real Princesses, then?"

"She's real all right," Vector corrected, adjusting his gear. "Just 'cause she isn't as tall as the others... not to mention, I hear she comes with a heck of a posse."

Vector pulled out a small bottle from a drawer, and began to twist it open. Globe widened his eyes, aghast. "You said you'd just be drinking coffee!"

"I know what I said. This is going in the coffee."